Australian PM's tenure looks doomed; leadership crisis suspends parliament

If Dutton becomes PM, its approximately 8 - 9 months of a considerably more conservative government. Not sure how much he can do in that time.

I will be really curious to see what he does if South Africa really begins its program of white farmer eviction.

He now has the power to act on his stated desire to help those people out.

Both Dutton and Morrison would be a disaster for Aus.

Both Dutton and Morrison would be a disaster for Aus.

I don't think they will have enough time to do anything much tbh.

Legally, there has to be a federal election before the middle of next year and I think its likely to be a lot earlier than that. So its 9 months tops, 3 months highly likely. Labor will be agitating hard for it.

Turnbull is a multimillionaire, besides his pride and loyalty to the top elite what really does he have to offer? At the same time his replacement is hardly someone you would want to visit your house. News papers on the chair he sits on. What a bizarre situation. Why are normal nice people not representing normal nose people?

Serves him right.  Didn't he backstab his predecessor?

Not a word about News corp? They're responsible for this mess. Uhlmann's spot on https://twitter.com/TheTodayShow/status/1032400773861138432

And just when i thought it couldnt get any worse I just read that Alan Jones dropped the n word (again) live on air this morning. what.a.mess.

Both Dutton and Morrison would be a disaster for Aus.

Reckon Dutton would be much worse & would further isolate Oz on the international stage.

Almost 3 years ago, Turnbull put arch-racist Dutton in charge of the ministry mostly responsible for race, foreigner and demographic issues. In that time Dutton oversaw combination of several jurisdictions to become his almost-black-shirt uniformed Borderforce empire, which recently has had its own 'children in detention' issues. He feels strong now. And Abbott his mercurial former mentor

Now Turnbull reaps what he sewed instead of having balls to put all those rightwing, coal-loving, Islam-blaming ratbags in their place. Which place? Outside of the zone in which 'nice normal people' in Australia are sick of feeling like a bunch of backward-looking parochial deckheads.

Turnbull is not going to change, and neither is Dutton.

What next? Election please.

Got to hand it though to @Cricky who asks:

* Why are normal nice people not representing normal nose people?*

I wish I could have a typo like that.

Bishop to run? Hope so. She would be my pick out of the 3 alternatives to the PM. I voted for her on the news poll.

7 Prime Ministers in 11 years, pending Liberal party meeting tomorrow Friday at high noon. It's embarrassing to say the least and the consensus is enough is enough with these antics emanating from Canberra.

TeejayToday 04:06 pm JST

7 Prime Ministers in 11 years, pending Liberal party meeting tomorrow Friday at high noon. It's embarrassing to say the least and the consensus is enough is enough with these antics emanating from Canberra.

So true these people are only backstabbing for ego and not the greater good of the Australian people.

Matt HartwellToday 03:21 pm JST

Bishop to run? Hope so. She would be my pick out of the 3 alternatives to the PM. I voted for her on the news poll.

Julia Bishop is no more than Malcolm Turnball in a skirt, she supports everything the traditional Liberal voter is AGAINST, it would be a guaranteed loss at polls if she took the top job.

inkochiToday 03:01 pm JST

Almost 3 years ago, Turnbull put arch-racist Dutton in charge of the ministry mostly responsible for race, foreigner and demographic issues. In that time Dutton oversaw combination of several jurisdictions to become his almost-black-shirt uniformed Borderforce empire, which recently has had its own 'children in detention' issues. He feels strong now. And Abbott his mercurial former mentor

Now Turnbull reaps what he sewed instead of having balls to put all those rightwing, coal-loving, Islam-blaming ratbags in their place. Which place? Outside of the zone in which 'nice normal people' in Australia are sick of feeling like a bunch of backward-looking parochial deckheads.

This goes to show how out of touch you are, its one of the reasons why the Conservative Government got elected in the first place, that is to enforce a string border policy.

Julia Bishop is no more than Malcolm Turnball in a skirt, she supports everything the traditional Liberal voter is AGAINST, it would be a guaranteed loss at polls if she took the top job.

34% compared to 10% popularity.

That is an awful lot of ground to make up and that's coming from news.com

Heaven knows his popularity on the left. Interesting to see an ABC poll, probably -10% is my prediction.

If the LNP wants to win the next election, they need to pick up some Labor voters.

If the LNP wants to win the next election, they need to pick up some Labor voters.

The actual Liberal or Labor votes are quite small. They need to pick up some independent voters. As one myself, both sides of politics fill be with dread. Both like to paint the world as left and right and instead seem to just paint themselves into corners where they become irrelevant to a large percentage of the populace. Looking at what's happened this week, it really feels like the whole system is broken.

Looking at what's happened this week, it really feels like the whole system is broken.

I think we need benchmarks to determine when its reasonable to challenge for leadership.

Its not good enough to challenge when the polls are down, or when a policy initiative fails, like NEG

It is good enough if a leader is particularly damaging or commits treason, say in foreign relations.

We need both parties to agree to a new set of rules. That's not particularly revolutionary, evolution is best.

I don't think the Australian system is broken. It has worked incredibly well for 200+ years for the most part.

I don't think the Australian system is broken. It has worked incredibly well for 200+ years for the most part.

It sure has. But do you really think oz pollies (or the system itself) are responsible for oz incredible prosperity? I don't think so. Have always believed Donald Horne got it right in his book "the lucky country".

"Australia is a lucky country run mainly by second rate people who share its luck. It lives on other people’s ideas, and, although its ordinary people are adaptable, most of its leaders (in all fields) so lack curiosity about the events that surround them that they are often taken by surprise".

Pretty good article on the subject http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/archived/hindsight/the-lucky-country%C2%A050-years-on/5710724

It sure has. But do you really think oz pollies (or the system itself) are responsible for oz incredible prosperity? I don't think so. Have always believed Donald Horne got it right in his book "the lucky country".

"Australia is a lucky country run mainly by second rate people who share its luck. It lives on other people’s ideas, and, although its ordinary people are adaptable, most of its leaders (in all fields) so lack curiosity about the events that surround them that they are often taken by surprise".

Pretty good article on the subject http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/archived/hindsight/the-lucky-country%C2%A050-years-on/5710724

Its a whole bunch of factors I think. Politically, we are fortunate that we have what is probably the most reliable, democratic political model available. Even when we hit turbulence it rights itself in short order. We have high quality institutions and legal system and a level of corruption that is not completely out of control.

The "system" as whole has been more important than the people involved in it.

We have high quality institutions and legal system and a level of corruption that is not completely out of control.

I agree that this is a key factor. I probably should have been clearer and referred to the political system, as in the way the major parties are organised. Both Liberal and Labor have falling membership numbers that have seen falling moderate voices, and that has resulted in the Liberals push further to the right and Labor further to the left of the more mainstream Australian view. It is these members who preselect (on the most part) their candidates, and as a result, we end up with politicians who don't actually represent what most Australians want. I think Turnbull briefly got considerably over 50% public approval ratings after he ousted Abbott, but apart from that, I can't remember the last time we had a political leader that the majority of the country actually wanted. Is it as bad as the U.S.? No, and as you say, the overall structure in Australia is stronger with things like anti-gerrymandering laws and mandatory voting that help limit the level of extremism we get. But the last 10 years of Rudd-Gillard-Rudd-Abbott-Turnbull-Whoever have been hard to take.

Both Liberal and Labor have falling membership numbers that have seen falling moderate voices, and that has resulted in the Liberals push further to the right and Labor further to the left of the more mainstream Australian view

I would agree.

Seems to me that when Australians get frustrated with politics, they don't join one of the major parties and work towards reform of that party and its platform from the membership up, rather they join a micro party as a form activism that really seems to go nowhere.

 I think Turnbull briefly got considerably over 50% public approval ratings after he ousted Abbott, but apart from that, I can't remember the last time we had a political leader that the majority of the country actually wanted.

I think I would say that given the near record stay of Howard in the modern era, he was probably as close as it got. You don't get 12 years without hitting a pretty solid core of people. Beyond that you would have to go back to Hawke/Keating and Menzies to get a really popular leader and party platform. That was a long time ago now.

 Is it as bad as the U.S.? No, and as you say, the overall structure in Australia is stronger with things like anti-gerrymandering laws and mandatory voting that help limit the level of extremism we get. But the last 10 years of Rudd-Gillard-Rudd-Abbott-Turnbull-Whoever have been hard to take.

Agreed. Its been very poor.

One of the best ways to defuse extremism, in my view, is a strong move towards quantitative data and statistics. When the media present a story, they need solid stats. When the government announces a new policy, I want to see some solid data to back it up. Sometimes when I comment, I try to back it up with stats. It takes the heat out of the argument and helps people make informed opinions and decisions.

Show me the numbers man!!! That should be the motto of the general public. Less emotion, more data. It should be easy in the information age.

I agree that Hawke and Howard were popular, and they both make a great case study in how politicians can be successful. Howard earned serious respect after Port Arthur and his gun control legislation. I can't think of any politicians today who would have the guts to do what he did.

I agree with pretty much everything else you've said, except one thing: "rather they join a micro party as a form activism that really seems to go nowhere." I'd lean more toward not joining micro parties, but becoming apathetic to the whole process, and voting micro parties because they're sick and tired of the stupidity coming from the major parties (speaking from experience here). Political parties, volunteer organisations, religious groups, sporting clubs etc... all have seen a downturn in membership over the past few decades.

Now we are seeing real Turnbull, who has too much grudged against people who against him and the person with vengeful nature. He will destroy anyone who tries to oust him from the office. Turnbull is egoist, power hungry and selfish, vengeful person. Do nothing PM in office and stealing policy of former PM Tony Abbott and make it his own. He doesn’t do any favor to the party and himself as well as country.

I think, former PM Tony Abbott should stand in for Party room spill for Peter Dutton if Peter Dutton failed to clear his eligible for the Office. Tony Abbott is best PM Australian people have since John Howard. Tony Abbott is also the best friend of Japan and he wanted close tie with Japan. He wanted to buy Japanese Submarine Soryu class Submarines but Malcolm Turnbull Government gave it to French Company. Now the French Company cannot be delivered first Sub on delivering date 2025. Tony Abbott will be the best PM for Australia and Japan.